Sufyān ibn ‘Abdullah, the Prophet's Companion, (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to teach him a comprehensive statement that comprises all the meanings of Islam so as to adhere to it and ask no one else about it. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: Say: I believe in Allah as the only deity, and I believe that He is my Lord, my God, my Creator, and the only God Who is truly worthy of my worship, with no partner. Then, submit to Allah and obey Him by performing what He has enjoined, avoiding what He has forbidden, and remaining steadfast on that.
- The essence of the religion is to believe in Allah, His Lordship, His Worship, and His Names and Attributes.
- The importance of being upright after Imān (faith), persistence in worship, and steadfastness.
- Imān is a condition for the acceptance of deeds.
- Belief in Allah includes the beliefs and basic principles of Imān that must be adopted and the subsequent acts of the heart along with compliance and submission to Allah inwardly and outwardly.
- Uprightness is adherence to the straight path by carrying out the duties and avoiding the prohibitions.
صحيح مسلم (1/ 65) (38)، مسند أحمد (24/ 141) (15416)، المفهم (1/137)، جامع العلوم والحكم (1/507)، فتح القوي المتين للعباد (ص 76)، شرح الأربعين النووية لعبد الكريم الخضير (ص 285)، شرح الأربعين لصالح آل الشيخ (ص 305).